Heavenly Smoked Cream Cheese Pasta Recipe: Cloud-Like Comfort

Creamy pasta takes an unexpected turn with this mouthwatering smoked cream cheese pasta that delivers rich, smoky notes in every forkful.

Tender noodles dance with a luxurious sauce that whispers of campfire warmth and comfort.

Bold flavors meld together, creating a dish that feels both familiar and exciting.

Smoky undertones weave through each bite, promising a culinary adventure that delights the senses.

The recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal that sparks conversation.

Cheese lovers and pasta enthusiasts will find themselves captivated by this irresistible combination of creamy and smoky goodness.

Prepare to savor every delectable moment of this extraordinary pasta experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Calories: 500 kcal

Servings: 4

Cream Cheese Pasta Ingredient List

• Cream Cheese: Creamy base that absorbs smoky flavors beautifully, choose a high-quality block for best texture.
• Olive Oil: Helps infuse flavors and prevents sticking during smoking process.
• Smoked Paprika: Adds deep, smoky undertone to enhance overall flavor profile.
• Garlic Powder: Provides robust, aromatic background notes.
• Onion Powder: Complements garlic with sweet, mellow depth.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and sharpness to seasoning blend.
• Salt: Enhances and balances all other flavor components.

• Cherry Tomatoes: Brings bright, sweet burst of freshness, select ripe and firm varieties.
• Minced Garlic: Intensifies savory essence and adds aromatic complexity.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces gentle heat and vibrant kick.

• Pasta: Provides hearty foundation for the dish, choose shapes that hold sauce well like rotini or penne.
• Pasta Water: Crucial for creating silky, smooth sauce texture and helping ingredients bind together.

Tools for Blending Cream Cheese Into Pasta

• Smoker: Essential tool for infusing smoky flavor at steady 225F temperature.
• Cast iron skillet: Perfect for smoking cream cheese evenly and adding rustic touch.
• Foil pan: Backup option for smoking tomatoes and cream cheese if no skillet available.
• Large mixing bowl: Needed for mashing smoked cream cheese and tomatoes into sauce.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for mixing and mashing ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring spoons: Helps accurately add spices and olive oil.
• Large pot: Required for cooking pasta according to package instructions.
• Colander: Used for draining pasta after cooking.

How to Smoke Pasta With a Creamy Finish

• Fire Up The Smoker

Crank your smoker to a cozy 225F. Choose mild wood chips like apple or cherry to give a gentle smoky whisper to your dish.

• Prep The Cream Cheese

Nestle cream cheese into a cast iron skillet. Drizzle with olive oil and dust with spices for a flavor explosion.

• Roast Tomato Magic

Toss cherry tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. They’ll join the cream cheese in the smoker for a flavor party.

• Smoking Time

Let the cream cheese and tomatoes hang out in the smoker for two hours. They’ll transform into a deliciously smoky treat.

• Pasta Dance

Cook your pasta until it’s perfectly al dente. Snag a splash of pasta water before draining – it’s liquid gold for your sauce.

• Create The Creamy Sauce

Mash the smoked cream cheese and tomatoes together. Stir in the reserved pasta water to create a luxuriously smooth sauce that’ll make taste buds dance.

Seasoning and Veggie Additions to Try

• Smoke the cream cheese and tomatoes a day in advance to intensify flavors and save time during meal preparation.
• Swap regular pasta with gluten-free or whole wheat options to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising the rich, smoky essence.
• Add grilled chicken, crispy pancetta, or sautéed shrimp to transform this pasta into a more substantial main course that satisfies hearty appetites.
• Incorporate roasted zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms directly into the sauce for extra nutrition and a colorful, vibrant presentation that adds texture and freshness.

Serve Smoked Pasta for Comfort and Flavor

• Smoky Pasta Party Platter: Create a vibrant spread with fresh herbs like basil or parsley sprinkled on top, adding bright colors and extra flavor to the creamy dish.
• Protein Power-Up: Add grilled chicken, crispy bacon bits, or sautéed shrimp to transform this pasta into a heartier main course that satisfies bigger appetites.
• Cheese Lover's Dream: Grate some fresh parmesan or sprinkle crumbled feta on top for an additional layer of cheesy goodness that complements the smoked cream cheese perfectly.
• Crunchy Texture Boost: Top the pasta with toasted pine nuts, crispy breadcrumbs, or crushed garlic croutons to introduce a delightful crunch against the creamy sauce.

Store in a Sealed Dish for Easy Reheat

• Keep leftover smoked cream cheese pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of pasta water to restore creamy texture.
• When reheating, use a microwave or stovetop with low heat. Stir frequently to prevent sauce separation and maintain smooth consistency.
• While best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the sauce separately for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and mix with freshly cooked pasta for optimal taste.
• Store smoked cream cheese and roasted tomatoes in separate containers if preparing ahead. This helps maintain individual flavors and prevents sauce from becoming soggy before final mixing.

Dreamy Smoked Cream Cheese Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Luxurious Smoked Cream Cheese Pasta invites pasta enthusiasts on a culinary journey of rich, smoky flavors. Silky textures and bold ingredients combine to create a memorable dining experience you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
• 1 block (8 oz or 226 g) cream cheese
• 1 pint (475 ml) cherry tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
• 2 tbsps fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water (reserved)

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Instructions

1. Smoker Preparation: Calibrate smoker to 225°F, selecting mild wood chips like apple, cherry, or pecan for delicate smoky undertones.
2. Cream Cheese Seasoning: Nestle cream cheese in cast iron skillet, lavish with olive oil, then generously dust with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt for robust flavor infusion.
3. Tomato Roasting: Massage cherry tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes, arranging them alongside cream cheese in smoker-ready configuration.
4. Smoking Process: Introduce cream cheese and tomatoes to smoker, allowing gradual flavor development for approximately 2 hours until cream cheese becomes luxuriously soft and tomatoes caramelize.
5. Pasta Transformation: Simultaneously cook pasta to package specifications, strategically reserving pasta water before draining to enhance sauce consistency.
6. Sauce Creation: Transfer smoked cream cheese and roasted tomatoes into expansive mixing bowl, vigorously mashing and blending until achieving silken texture, then incorporate reserved pasta water to craft a velvety, harmonious sauce.

Notes

• Maintain a consistent 225F to ensure even smoking and prevent burning the cream cheese or tomatoes.
• Select mild woods like apple or cherry for a gentle, subtle smokiness that enhances without overpowering the dish.
• Save the starchy pasta water to help create a smooth, creamy sauce that perfectly coats the pasta.
• Go light on salt initially, as smoked ingredients and pasta water already contribute significant flavor complexity.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Smoking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg